Broadside bullet



Sept. 17, 1968 M. H. BRISCOE 3,401,637.

BROADSIDE BULLET Filed Sept.28, 1966 INVENTOR MADISON H. BRISCOE ATTORNEU.

United States Patent 3,401,637 BROADSIDE BULLET Madison H. Briscoe, Box 767, Athens, Ga. 30601 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 418,036,

Dec. 14, 1964. This application Sept. 28, 1966, Ser.

12 Claims. (Cl. 102-921) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bullet having an asymmetrical surface on its leading end for causing the bullet to turn into a broadside position upon impact with a target. In one embodiment, a depressed surface is formed generally at the rear end of the bullet for aiding movement of the bullet into the broadside position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending United States application Ser. No. 418,036, filed Dec. 14, 1964, now U.S. Patent No. 3,282,214, entitled Projectile.

This invention relates to a new and improved projectile or bullet particularly suitable for hunting game.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a projectile which will inflict a highly effective wound on game and may be economically manufactured and retailed at commercially competitive prices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bullet having a unique construction which upon striking a target such as game, will cause the bullet to ultimately turn and travel in a broadside position, that is, transverse with respect to the travel path of the bullet whereby the size and shock of the inflicted wound will be substantially increased.

Another object is to provide such a bullet having an improved construction over certain embodiments disclosed in my United States patent application identified above. Included herein is such a bullet which has increased stability and experiences facilitated movement into the broadside position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bullet embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the bullet of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front end view of the bullet of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating a modification of the bullet of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a bullet representing another and preferred embodiment of the present invention constituting an improvement over the bullet of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a rear end view of the bullet of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to FIGURE 6 but illustrating three different modifications of the bullet of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of a bullet illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a rear view of the bullet of FIGURE 10.

Referring to the drawings for illustrative purposes, FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3 show a bullet constructed in accordance with the present invention and including a generally cylindrical body portion 10 having a generally flat rear end portion 12 and an opposite leading end portion generally designated 14 of reduced transverse dimension. Although not illustrated, this bullet may be employed in connection with any conventional cartridge case including powder and a typical primer.

3,401,637 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 lCC In accordance with the present invention, the bullet is preformed or manufactured with its nose or leading end portion 14 defining an unsymmetrical or unevenly distributed area. In the particular illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by forming a surface portion 16 of the leading end 14 at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bullet. As is shown in FIGURE 3, oblique surface 16 may be formed with a slight convex curvature in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bullet. Alternatively, surface 16 may be formed flat (not shown). Moreover the oblique surface may also be formed in two or more sections such as illustrated by the triangular or sector shaped sections 18 shown in FIG- URE 4. It will be appreciated that other shapes and arrangements may also be employed in forming the unsymmetrical leading end of the bullet.

In operation, because of the unsymmetrical or uneven distribution of the area at the leading end 14 of the bullet, unbalanced forces of resistance will be exerted on the leading end 14 upon impact with a target. These unbalanced forces will cause the bullet to turn in the target into a broadside position with respect to the path of travel to the target. Reference is hereby made to my aboveidentified patent for a more detailed explanation of this broadside effect.

Although the above-described bullet may be fired with reasonable accuracy, the unbalanced surface 16 can cause some deviation or instability of the bullet during its flight to the target. In the form illustrated specifically in FIG- URES 5 and 6, a rear portion feature includes the formation of two flat, depressed, portions 32 extending along opposite side portions of the bullet at the rear end of the bullet. Depressed portions 32 are flat and extend axially of the bullet about A to /s of the total length of the bullet. Instead of two depressed surfaces 32, only one may be employed if desired. Additionally, the depressed surfaces or surface may be curved instead of flat and moreover may be located on the side of the bullet opposite to the oblique surface on the leading end of the bullet.

Referring to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 three other modifications of the rear portion feature are shown. The bullet of FIGURE 7 has a triangular rear configuration 34 formed by three equally spaced, flat, depressed surfaces 36. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 8 incorporates a four sided rear end formed by four equally spaced depressed portions 40. Depressed portions 40 are slightly convexly curved in the transverse direction of the bullet. Referring now to FIGURE 9, this embodiment incorporates a generally elliptical rear end 42 formed by depressing opposite halves 44 of the bullet inwardly at the rear end of the bullet. As in the FIGURE 8 embodiment, depressed portions 44 are convexly curved in the transverse direction of the bullet.

The depressed surface or surfaces at the rear end of the bullet aid in causing the bullet to turn into the broadside position upon impact with the target. The depressed surface or surfaces at the rear end of the bullet also serve to help stabilize the bullet broadside in the target.

The depressed surface or surfaces may also be incorporated into a bullet which is manufactured with a balanced or symmetrical leading end portion which however is frangible or separable upon impact with the target to present an unbalanced leading end which causes the bullet to lodge in the broadside position in the target. Such a construction is illustrated in the bullet shown in FIG- URES l0 and 11 wherein the leading end portion of the bullet 50 is formed with a score line or groove 52 or other suitable weakening means extending in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the bullet. Groove 52 is dimensioned so that upon impact with a target, the nose portion 54 of the bullet will separate to present an unbalanced leading end which causes the bullet to turn into a broadside position. Such a construction is covered in the claims of my earlier patent, identified above and reference may be had to the latter for further description.

To enhance or aid in movement of the bullet to its broadside position, the rear end of the bullet is formed with depressions similar to those incorporated in the bullet shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, described above. It will be appreciated that other shapes, arrangements and sizes may be employed in forming the depressed rear end on a bullet such as shown in FIGURE 10.

As will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art, various other modifications and adaptations of the structures above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bullet comprising a body portion and a leading end portion generally at the forward end of the body portion, and means for separating said body portion and said leading end portion upon impact With a target, the surface of separation on said body portion being such that an unbalanced surface area is presented on the forward end portion of said body portion causing the bullet to turn into a broadside position in the target after separation of the leading end portion and a depressed area at the rear end of the body portion for aiding movement of the bullet into the broadside position.

2. A bullet comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface of generally circular crosssection dimensioned to spin about said longitudinal axis in flight, an asymmetrical preformed surface on the leading end of said body including a portion extending at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of the body for causing the bullet to turn into a broadside position with a target, and a generally angularly extending depressed surface formed generally at the rear end of the body for aiding movement of the bullet into the broadside position and stabilizing the bullet during broadside travel in the target.

3. The bullet defined in claim 2 wherein said depressed surface at the rear end of the bullet extends axially of the bullet approximately one-quarter to one-fifth of the length of the bullet.

4. The bullet defined in claim 2 wherein said depressed surface is generally flat.

5. The bullet defined in claim 2 wherein said depressed surface is convex.

6. The bullet defined in claim 2 wherein the bullet has two convex depressed surfaces forming a generally elliptical rear end in the bullet.

7. The bullet defined in claim 2 wherein the bullet has a plurality of said depressed surfaces forming a polygonal rear end in the bullet.

8. The bullet defined in claim 7 wherein the bullet has three depressed surfaces forming a triangular rear end in the bullet.

9. A bullet comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface having a generally circular crosssection dimensioned to spin about said longitudinal axis in flight, and a preformed asymmetrical surface on the leading end of the body for causing the bullet to turn into a broadside position upon impact with a target.

10. The bullet defined in claim 9 wherein said leading and of the bullet includes a generally bevelled surface.

11. The bullet defined in claim 10 wherein said generally bevelled surface is flat.

12. The bullet defined in claim 10 wherein said generally bevelled surface is curved.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,079 2/1908 Bon 244-3.1 1,896,515 2/1933 Huffman 2443.1 3,132,587 5/1964 Fuller 244-3.l 3,282,214 11/1966 Briscoe 10238 ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner. 

